Bangladesh’s War on Drugs: A Campaign Marred by Allegations of Extrajudicial Killings
When Bangladesh launched an aggressive “war on drugs” in 2018, the government promised to rid the country of yaba—a cheap and addictive methamphetamine pill flooding communities. The campaign was framed as a necessary measure to protect young people and maintain order. But as the death toll mounted, disturbing allegations emerged that the crackdown was less about justice and more about sanctioned violence.
A Rapid Escalation of Violence
The campaign was spearheaded by Bangladesh’s security forces, including the elite Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and police units. Within months, thousands of people had been arrested and hundreds killed. Official statements often described these deaths as the result of “crossfire” or shootouts between suspects and law enforcement.
By the end of 2018, Amnesty International documented 466 suspected extrajudicial killings linked to the drug war. Many of those killed were alleged dealers, but witnesses and relatives claimed that some were ordinary citizens caught up in a campaign where suspicion alone could lead to death.
The “Crossfire” Narrative
Authorities frequently maintained that suspects died while resisting arrest or firing on police. Each incident followed a similar script: a suspect was taken into custody, a gunfight allegedly erupted, and the person was found dead. To security officials, these were legitimate operations.
But families of victims painted a different picture. Many described how their loved ones were detained by plainclothes officers, only to disappear for days before their bodies turned up, riddled with bullets. In these cases, relatives insisted that there was no gunfight—only staged encounters designed to justify killings.
Disappearances and Fabricated Cases
Reports from human rights organizations reveal a chilling pattern. Victims were sometimes abducted by security forces, held in undisclosed locations, and later killed. Witness testimonies suggested that in some cases, evidence was fabricated to support official accounts. Guns or drugs were allegedly planted to make the narrative of shootouts appear credible.
This has created an environment of fear. Families worry not just about their relatives who might be involved in drugs, but about anyone who could be falsely accused. For marginalized communities, where policing is often heavy-handed, the risks are especially severe.
Human Rights Groups Sound the Alarm
Domestic and international rights groups quickly condemned the killings. Human Rights Watch called on Bangladesh to suspend its drug war, citing systematic violations of due process. Amnesty International argued that the campaign had created a “human rights crisis,” one in which the government appeared to prioritize speed over legality.
Their core concern is not the fight against drugs itself, but the manner in which it is conducted. Instead of transparent arrests, fair trials, and rehabilitation, Bangladesh has been accused of substituting bullets for justice.
Government Denial and Defensiveness
The Bangladeshi government has consistently rejected claims of extrajudicial killings. Officials argue that suspects died in legitimate encounters, often because they opened fire on officers first. Some have admitted that mistakes may occur in tense operations but deny any systemic policy of unlawful executions.
For Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s government, the drug war is a politically sensitive issue. While it appeals to citizens frustrated with rising drug addiction, the campaign has also been accused of being a tool to silence critics or intimidate political opponents under the guise of law enforcement.
The Human Cost
Behind the statistics are individual tragedies. Families have spoken of fathers, brothers, and sons who vanished without explanation. Mothers have wept as they described waiting for detained relatives to be released, only to find them in the morgue. For these families, justice remains elusive. Few cases are independently investigated, and accountability for security forces is rare.
The fear has rippled through communities. Ordinary Bangladeshis worry that being in the wrong place, or attracting the suspicion of the wrong person, could lead to accusations of drug involvement—and ultimately to death without trial.
A Campaign at a Crossroads
Bangladesh’s “war on drugs” continues to be a defining feature of its law-and-order policy. But with the number of alleged killings rising and pressure from international watchdogs intensifying, the campaign risks eroding the very rule of law it claims to uphold.
The government faces a crucial choice: persist with a crackdown that critics say mirrors the deadly tactics of the Philippines under Rodrigo Duterte, or recalibrate its strategy to emphasize rehabilitation, fair trials, and accountability.
The promise of a safer Bangladesh, free from the scourge of yaba, is compelling. Yet the cost of achieving that vision through extrajudicial killings is devastating—for the rule of law, for the credibility of the state, and most of all, for the families left behind.
Bangladesh’s war on drugs is no longer just about narcotics. It has become a test of whether justice in the country is served by courts and due process, or by the barrel of a gun.
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